The rivalry between the No. 5-ranked Trinity Valley Community College Cardinals and Kilgore rose to another level Saturday at Bruce Field.

After last years opening round exit by the Kilgore Rangers in the conference semifinals, the Cardinals returned the favor with a 48-41 victory at Bruce Field in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference title game.

"What a game and that was incredible," TVCC coach Brad Smiley said. "We have had some battles with them and it was a test of will and character on the young mens part. Congratulations to the Kilgore coaches, staff and kids who played an amazing game. Our guys refused to lose and never flinched. They got down early and kept plugging along. It was a great game to be a part of. We could have played better but it was a great game."

With the victory, TVCC is 10-1 overall and have punched a ticket to the C.H.A.M.PS. Heart of Texas Bowl game Dec. 3 in Copperas Cove.

"We are going to take a few days off and get out on the road and do some recruiting," Smiley said. "We will figure out who the bowl opponent will be. Hopefully, a couple of the teams dropped ahead of us and we might get out of this thing playing for something else. I know one thing is that I have a bunch of guys who love the game and playing together. They deserve a reward in December and we are 10-1 with a chance to go to 11 wins."

This is the fourth straight regular season conference title. The Cardinals have won three regional titles in the last four years.

Smiley said since 2013, the Cardinals have won seven of the last eight regular season and conference trophies.

"Our redshirt sophomores have won 30 games in the three years here," Smiley said. "If we win the bowl game, we will be 40-6 over the last four seasons. It has been an incredible run and we are going to keep riding this wave."

In the victory over Kilgore, the Cardinals tied the game at 41 with 57 seconds remaining on a Caden Novikoff 21-yard field goal.

In the overtime period, TVCC opened up the period as quarterback Michael Curtis found Damontes Dowell on a seven-yard reception for the 48-41 lead.

On Kilgore's ensuing possession, the Cardinal defense stepped up as Devante Thomas intercepted quarterback Chandler Eiland, who returned the interception for a touchdown to end the game.

TVCC was trailing 41-31 with 7:35 remaining on a 12-yard run by Kilgore quarterback Chandler Eiland.

"No, we had no concerns and we have been in worse situations," Smiley said. "We were not executing as well as we could have at the point. We came out and scored a touchdown on the first drive and then punt, punt and field goal. We felt like we were leaving points on the board."

The Cardinals cut the deficit to 41-38 with 5:57 remaining on Shelton Eppler found Jalen Guyton on a wide open nine-yard touchdown reception.

In the first half, the Cardinals had a chance to get into the locker room down 27-24 as Novikoff set up for a 21-yard field goal on fourth-and-1.

Smiley went for the fake field goal but Curtis was tackled in the back field to end the drive.

:I swear I thought I had them all week on film," Smiley said of the field goal attempt to end the first half. "I thought they would give us a walk-in touchdown. I saw we are going to go for it. I think Michael was going to walk in and they snuffed it out. Good for them on that play."

The Rangers led off the scoring with 14:46 remaining in the first half as linebacker Troy Burnett picked off a Curtis pass and raced 30-yards for the 7-0 lead.

TVCC answered with 12:27 remaining on a two-yard run by Adam Berryman. Novikoff booted the PAT good.

Kilgore regained the lead as Eiland scored on a one-yard touchdown with 7:55 remaining in the quarter for the 14-7 advantage.

TVCC then put together a 10 play, 76 yard drive as Curtis scored from one-yard out with 4:34 remaining in the quarter.

With just over one minute remaining in the first quarter, Kilgore's Marvin Broussard rumbled 54 yards to paydirt for the 21-14 lead.

In the second quarter, Kilgore added to its lead as Byron Proctor scored from one-yard out with 7:02 remaining. Alvin Kenworthy booted the PAT good for the 27-14 lead.

TVCC cut into the deficit with 4:27 remaining as Eppler found Tony Mullins on a 12-yard touchdown.

Both teams had touchdowns in the third quarter as TVCC led off the scoring with a 15-yard reception from Curtis to Cedric Battle. The touchdown came with 11:34 for the 28-27 lead.

Kilgore answered back with a seven play, 38 yard drive capped off by a six-yard touchdown run from Eiland with 5:10 remaining.

Novikoff led off the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 24-yard field goal for the 34-31 deficit with 14:49 remaining in the game.

Following the game, Smiley was presented with the Southwest Junior College Coaches Association Coach of the Year plaque.

(Story courtesy of Athens Daily Review)